"Everyone who loves football would be overjoyed to see San Marino qualify for the World Cup. The micro-nation situated in northern-central Italy have been attempting to make it to the World Cup since 1994, but have so far never won a qualification game, earning just two points in 83 games. And bizarrely, they need that trend to continue to be in with any chance of qualifying for next summer's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States."
"In a World Cup qualifier between the two in 1993 San Marino took the lead after just 8.3 seconds thanks to Davide Gualtieri. The goal was at the time, the fastest ever scored in World Cup qualifying. They went onto lose 7-1, but it was certainly some of the best 20 minutes ever for the microstate. Ian Wright carries the ball back to the halfway line after scoring for England against San Marino in a World Cup qualifier in November 1993. (Image credit: Getty Images)"
San Marino is a micro-nation in northern-central Italy that has attempted World Cup qualification since 1994 without ever winning a qualifying match, earning two points in 83 games. The team scored an 8.3-second goal against England in 1993 through Davide Gualtieri, but lost that match 7-1. In the 2026 qualification campaign San Marino have played seven matches, recording zero wins, zero draws, seven losses, scoring one and conceding 32. San Marino beat Liechtenstein twice and drew with Gibraltar to top their Nations League group. The Nations League now links to World Cup qualifying and topping that group creates a potential route into the World Cup play-offs. Multiple conditions must still be met for a play-off opportunity.
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